BeIN creates website documenting evidence of piracy

BeIN Media Group has created a website documenting what it claims is the “industrial scale theft” of its sports and entertainment content by Saudi Arabia-based TV channel beoutQ and Riyadh-based satellite provider Arabsat.

The website, https://beoutq.tv, shares evidence of piracy that beIN has gathered against beoutQ. The Qatari-based broadcaster alleges that the pirate operation is supported by Saudi Arabia and says the website will be regularly updated as it takes legal action against the country.

BeIN Media Group claims beoutQ has illegally broadcast premium sports and entertainment content worth billions of dollars since its inception in August 2017. BeIN lists Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League, LaLiga, the NFL, the NBA, the WTA, Formula One and the Olympics among the rights-holders whose content it claims has been pirated through the channel.

Earlier this week, beIN Media Group called on Serie A to reconsider its decision to host the Italian Super Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, arguing that the Italian league was supporting a country that pirated its content.

In December, the World Trade Organisation in Geneva approved a request for the establishment of a WTO panel to adjudicate on the beoutQ case brought against the Kingdom for violating intellectual property rights. In October, beIN commenced an international investment arbitration claiming over $1 billion in damages against the Kingdom on the basis of beoutQ. And recently, Fifa, the AFC and other sports rights-holders have disclosed that they will be launching legal action in Saudi Arabia very shortly.